A review by righteousridel
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
4.0
Black Powder War continues the adventures of Lawrence and Temeraire as they return from China, and if you enjoyed Throne of Jade, then this will be equally enjoyable. In fact, I suspect if the two books were combined into one, it would have been a much bigger success, as the journey to China culminates in a great deal of Napoleonic warfare merged beautifully with the realistic handling of dragons that has put this series on the map.
Despite starting these novels for Age of Sail battles, I find myself preferring the adventure more than the action. Naomi Novik sketches out a wonderfully rich alternate history that our main characters wander through, passing through the Gobi, up into the Karakorum, and finally into Istanbul and continental Europe during Napoleon's greatest victories. There's a surprisingly large cast that surrounds Temeraire and not all of them make it home. Those losses keep the adventure tense, and when we shift into the depth of the Napoleonic Wars, the stakes are raised but I found myself missing the exploration and introduction of familiar cultures that have been made alien through their use of dragons.
Ultimately I wish this novel was combined with Throne of Jade, as they pair wonderfully together and I assume the author planned both at the same time. As it is, Black Powder War as a standalone is excellent, but it could have been so much more.
Recommended.
I love how Napoleon is introduced, and how he's shown to be absolutely brilliant via his innovations incorporating dragons. I also appreciated the way an arch-nemesis was introduced for Temeraire, and I think if the events of Throne of Jade were combined into this novel, we could have seen that as the central focus (instead of the forced three-act play ending with the Chinese prince's death, it would have been second act raise in stakes).
Britain does look like it's facing a hopeless war ahead, and I'm most impressed that Lawrence wasn't rescued by his home country. That the entire adventure was solved through he and his crew's ingenuity actually elevated this book in my eyes, particularly at the end when it was their kindness to the ferals that saved them from Danzberg.
Despite starting these novels for Age of Sail battles, I find myself preferring the adventure more than the action. Naomi Novik sketches out a wonderfully rich alternate history that our main characters wander through, passing through the Gobi, up into the Karakorum, and finally into Istanbul and continental Europe during Napoleon's greatest victories. There's a surprisingly large cast that surrounds Temeraire and not all of them make it home. Those losses keep the adventure tense, and when we shift into the depth of the Napoleonic Wars, the stakes are raised but I found myself missing the exploration and introduction of familiar cultures that have been made alien through their use of dragons.
Ultimately I wish this novel was combined with Throne of Jade, as they pair wonderfully together and I assume the author planned both at the same time. As it is, Black Powder War as a standalone is excellent, but it could have been so much more.
Recommended.
Spoiler
The following is in spoiler tags, and I say so since some Goodreads clients may not respect it. You've been warned:I love how Napoleon is introduced, and how he's shown to be absolutely brilliant via his innovations incorporating dragons. I also appreciated the way an arch-nemesis was introduced for Temeraire, and I think if the events of Throne of Jade were combined into this novel, we could have seen that as the central focus (instead of the forced three-act play ending with the Chinese prince's death, it would have been second act raise in stakes).
Britain does look like it's facing a hopeless war ahead, and I'm most impressed that Lawrence wasn't rescued by his home country. That the entire adventure was solved through he and his crew's ingenuity actually elevated this book in my eyes, particularly at the end when it was their kindness to the ferals that saved them from Danzberg.